The Beggar's Assistant

If you live in Ghana you wouldn't be oblivion to the sight of beggars taking up our cities. They are seen in traffic basically every morning on principal streets in the Accra, sitting on pavements, loitering the markets, siting under and on foot bridges with their treasure bowls and cans asking for alms. They could be children, the aged but most often they are disabled in one part of their bodies and what even surprises me is that fact that, a blind or a cripple person in his/her wheelchair is been pushed/led by an able person. Whenever I see them carrying on vigorously with their day’s work I wonder what form of laziness is this. While most of them are Ghanaians we have had our fair share of Fulanis. (Whom you would be humbly graced by their children who pester you and ask for money with their load of cuteness)  Why would one subject such a vulnerable person to the scorching sun of our country especially children. I believe that you as the ‘assistant’ could work and support this person. But one thing that I have come to realize from the experience of others is that, these beggars make a lot of ‘profit’ and do cater for their families and even acquire some sort of wealth. I mean if the business wasn't lucrative why spend the whole day in the sun talking to strangers and repeating the same words over in addition to even adding a melodious tune to spice up the collection, crossing busy roads, endangering your children who could have been in school, the risk of getting knocked down by a vehicle. Likewise the Fulani Immigrants who leave their country whenever their children are on vacation and use them as tools of income generation to make money and return (According to some kids we had an interaction with during a charity outreach at the Accra Mall foot bridge).
 Don’t be quick to call me heartless because having a disability isn't incapability but finding your purpose and working towards it. I have heard the successful stories of persons with disability running business, making impart in education, religion, and social work and not capitalizing on their physique. Not forgetting Ivor Greenstreet whose election as the flag-bearer for the CPP made him the first disabled person to run for president in Ghana. And you tell me there’s nothing you can do with your life. If not for anything he brought hope to others to strive above their physical abilities. The list can run on and on but how can one expect to live their life depending on the coin of others. Is there fulfillment? If your peers took advantage of available opportunities for them then you have no excuse. And to the chaperons, probably the disabled person may not be able to fend for themselves but you the assistant can. Please find something doing; get your child, sibling, parent or grandparent off the street and work to give them the better life. How long will you continue begging? And are they happy at all because most often they have a stern faces registering frustrations and disappointments? What if that person passes away how would they survive. Likewise you my cherished reader, whenever there is an opportunity to support the vulnerable and the disabled, please. With your resources, clothing, food, time and in any way that you can possibly help. Everybody needs a helping hand.